Xīngchén - Sháo yīn fù

Zhànchǎng Yuán Yāojing (or Senjougahara Yousei if you try to read his nickname in Japanese) seems to befallen in love with Xīngchén. Well, if you haven’t heard the latter name, this Vocaloid is better known as Stardust in Western world. OK, what’s so special with her?

The best way to find out is to listen to the latest Senjougahara’s release, the remastered version of “Sháo yīn fù”. The song dates back to 2012, being one of the first Vocaloid works of the producer. So it gets a general clean-up, few touches here and there, a pinch of extra djent spiciness, nothing extraordinary.  But most importantly, it features miss Xīngchén!

And I’m impressed, gentlemen. Xīngchén is a pure ear candy. The most amazing achievement of V4 technology is its ability to make all technical matters irrelevant. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, a wise man said. And few men can resist Xīngchén’s magic appeal! :)

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG6YAiJ5gLA
Bilibili link: http://www.bilibili.com/video/av4434313/


Not every 8-string guitar would qualify for trve djent. Fancy floral pattern is a certain step in the right direction.

Video’s art by swd3e2.

Hatsune Miku - Sakura kotoba

A beautiful arrange by JP-san. Progressive rock, yummy-yummy, bright and flashy, caring more for flamboyance than for integrity. The most amazing part is Miku keeping pace effortlessly with all this royal turmoil. Now that’s something worthy of respect! ;)

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/1Shi2rKd8W8
MP3 download & lyrics: http://piapro.jp/t/fg3q


Zettai ryouiki is so powerful, not a single law of physics can stand against it! ;)

Video art by king.

Hatsune Miku - RiA

The first video of KeitA (instrumentals) and T3 (lyrics). The song was released earlier on Piapro, it’s a nifty attempt at grunge being squeezed into post-hardcore shape. The best part of it is juicy sound of guitars, the bass support is particularly impressive. Miku, on the other side, seems to be rather shy…

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm28653397
MP3 download: http://piapro.jp/t/zgF1

Yuzuki Yukari - Ensei

Junto Kurokawa, the man who authored some deliciously sick songs in the past, is back with another Vocaloid release. I wish we heard new stuff from him more often, one song in twelve months is damn too little! Hell, even VMW updates more frequently! ;)

More importantly, it’s not hip-hop this time. Seriously, who’d wish to hear hip-hop more often? No, ‘Ensei’ sets new highs in the deliciousness and sickness of the producer’s sound. Make no mistake, it is prime djent, one-string-picking-abusive and boasting of down-tuning beyond any rationality :)

Yuzuki Yukari seems to be hardly moved by all of this, sounding a bit cold and distant. Yukari performs for the third version of the song. The first one was released a long, looong time ago, in May 2008. You won’t find it or the second version anywhere on Nicovideo or on the producer’s website. The most likely reason? They were not sick enough! ;)

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm28649296
Lyrics and off-vocal version: http://piapro.jp/t/bO_c


This was tagged ‘Yuzuki Yukari’ on Piapro, I swear! :)

Art by Assi.

GUMI & Hatsune Miku - Asylum

Moe-P-san has showed up on Nicovideo with one of their work, ‘Asylum’, which was released on Piapro half a year ago. The one thing you need to know is that the song is epic. Its epicness shines even through the horribly screwed up mixing! But let minor technicalities not distract us, for it’s really prime example of good post-hardcore. Though the most interesting thing that caught my attention is distorted vocals. Moe-P uses quite a distinct technique which makes screaming rasping and, well, a way closer to ‘natural’ sound.

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm27938023
MP3 download & Lyrics: http://piapro.jp/t/6RP7


Androids can’t feel cold... Or so I hope.

Hatsune Miku - Hito yo hito yo ni yumeutsutsu

OK, now I know playing djent at half speed is a good idea. Well, ‘Hito yo…’ isn’t djent strictly, but it’s the closest thing if you add up folk metal (at half speed too) and acoustic guitar sound. Yes, I’ve used the words ‘djent’ and ‘acoustic sound’ in the same sentence, what a heresy! :)

But c’mon, who cares? ‘Hito yo’ is a really nice piece with tight bass and solid atmosphere. Miku fits just perfectly. Besides, Miku is our religion, what heresy are you talking about? :)

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm27942383

Yuezheng Ling - Rondo Of The Sand

An exquisite piece by ZOMiG (sound) and Zihan Lianmeng (lyrics). It opens with a stylish and totally authentic intro on native Asian instruments which sets the special mood for the whole song. Basically, this Rondo clearly demonstrates that to make good prog metal you need one thing: style. Not technique, not some elitist attitude, not fapping to John Petrucci, just plain old style. And maybe Yuezheng Ling too. Well, nobody says she isn’t stylish :) In fact, she sounds awesome!

The debate is still open whether you should add djent into this mix :) ZOMiG throws in just a pinch of it, and I like the outcome. Let’s call this effect ‘synergy’  :)

Bilibili link: http://www.bilibili.com/video/av3324962/
Song download & lyrics: https://zomig.bandcamp.com/track/rondo-of-the-sand (optional $$)


When THE FUCK will they start to design Vocaloid outfits like that? Don’t they know that STYLE MATTERS?!

(Analog) Art by Lingjie 0rz

Deadly Melancholy - EP review

This one came out unexpected. I mean, what did Scythe of Luna (formerly known as Corthax; even earlier known as Cherryleaf) have in their assets besides the habit of changing their name frequently? One (just one!) Vocaloid song heavy enough to be of VMW’s interest, ‘Insomnia’. Released a year and a half ago. Still too much synthetic, too 8-bit-ish and too unconventional from trVe die-hard metal point of view but appealing anyway.

Not that much, I’d say. Sure, there were another releases, all pure electronic, so that hardly matters. But now all of a sudden we have ‘Deadly Melancholy’, an EP, 6 tracks and 27 minutes of intense sound, and now it totally matters! The EP was released under Vocallective label, and guys there swear they pushed release dates of other albums to clear the road for ‘Deadly Melancholy’ – so much they were impressed by it. Heh, I’d discount their words, record label is a cheesy business… still, for good music the sooner we get it, the better!

Dreaming Colors - album review

There are many reasons why we should count Okame-P among the most notable producers of heavier Vocaloid scene. But there is a reason of special value: his clear and steady devotion to the music. And this devotion brings quite concrete results. Very pleasing results, to be sure. Of course, I’m talking about Okame-P’s new web release ‘Dreaming Colors’.

It’s the third web album from Calvi Taro, and it comes surprisingly quickly after the 2nd – ‘Lamento’, which was released in January this year. But upon glancing on the tracklist I was even more astonished. Of 13 full-fledged songs, only a couple was previously published on Nicovideo! And Okame-P’s Nico channel boasts [starting counting hastily…] yes, another 13 absolutely new tracks and one rearrange since February. Now that’s an impressive pace, gentlemen! Well, seems Calvi himself didn’t expect this productivity too :)

MMD Cup 15 - Canon-san ga doramu otataite kuremashita

A worthy work from the late MMD event that basically shows us Miku sweating at the drum kit. And she’s trying it quite hard - since it’s prog metal, and prog tends to be frustratingly demanding for poor drummer souls. Oh, but it’s also good prog blasting on so we have pretty engaging show to watch!

No, really, we rarely see Miku performing that particular way, and I suddenly caught myself craving for more ;) Why, she is a literal drum machine! :) Only with pigtails. And barefoot. In fact, she could as well be the sexiest drum machine in our pathetic world! If this isn’t enough reason to watch the video then what else?! ;)

The track is “Peppered cancer” played originally by Bobby Jarzombek. Yes, he played it barefoot too. No, it’s far cry from Miku. Because of reasons above. You have been warned ;)

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm26932051

Hagane Miku by TheAmusingZ

MMD model by Kodd84.

DJ Sona and Hagane Miku

DJ Sona and Hagane Miku amazing artwork by Chibiusa-moon.

Are you familiar with DJ Sona? Suffice to say she's Miku of League of Legends. Quite an upgraded Miku, for sure. So yeah, never doubt "Hatsune Miku is everywhere" meme! :)
Oh, and just like other Mikus around, yuri is NOT canon.